National Burger Day NYC is not just about what is between the buns—it is about where you are when you bite in, and how unforgettable that first bite feels.

There is something deeply comforting about a well-made burger. Crisp edges, molten cheese, a soft bun that gives just enough under your fingers—and when you are lucky, the first bite lingers. This National Burger Day, we are stepping beyond fast casual and searching for something more layered, more satisfying, and, of course, more New York.

This editorial guide curates 11 of the most distinctive burgers across Manhattan and Brooklyn, from rooftops above Times Square to oceanside boardwalks in Brighton Beach. Some are classics reimagined. Others are unexpected, paired with smoky cocktails or hidden behind sleek brasserie doors. But all are worth the trip, the wait, and the indulgence.

Brooklyn

Breva

📍 3145 Brighton Fourth Street—Brighton Beach

Set against the breezy stretch of the Brighton Beach boardwalk, Breva offers a burger that balances comfort with quiet craftsmanship. The Breva Double Cheeseburger [$2] anchors two Black Angus beef patties with aged cheddar, crisp lettuce, house-made pickles, and a deeply savory secret sauce—all tucked into a sesame seed bun that soaks in just the right amount of flavor.

There is a casual magic to enjoying it with the Atlantic wind in your hair and the distant hum of Coney Island behind you. An unfussy burger, confident, and exactly what it promises to be.

Sungold

📍 247 Metropolitan Avenue—Williamsburg

There is an effortless elegance to the Second Street Burger at Sungold, the seasonal restaurant tucked inside Arlo Williamsburg. The burger arrives stacked and glistening. American cheese cascading over a thick patty, crisp lettuce, crispy onions, and a rich deluxe sauce, all anchored by golden fries.

It is comfort food, sure, but layered with the kind of detail Executive Chef Michael King is known for. This National Burger Day NYC, the burger comes with The Smoked Show, a signature cocktail made with Whistlepig 6yr rye and autumn spice syrup, presented in a smoke-filled glass dome. If ever there were a burger made for theater and indulgence, this is it.

Red Hook Tavern

📍 329 Van Brunt Street—Red Hook

The Dry-Aged Red Hook Tavern Burger is the kind of dish that earns a quiet cult following—whispered about more than shouted, until you finally go and understand. It is straightforward on paper: a dry-aged patty, American cheese, shaved white onion, and frites on the side. But what lands on the plate is precision. Depth. A rich, minerally flavor that speaks to the quality of the beef and the restraint behind it.

There are no pickles. No sauces. No distractions. Just one of the most confidently executed burgers in Brooklyn, served in a room that feels like it has been here forever. It is the kind of place—and the kind of burger—that makes time slow down. Especially on a long weekend.

Emily

📍 919 Fulton Street—Clinton Hill

Tucked into an unassuming corner of Clinton Hill, Emily serves a burger that has earned cult status with good reason. The Emmy Burger is a composition of textures and contrasts. A dry-aged beef patty seared to a beautiful crust, topped with melted cheddar and deeply caramelized onions, then finished with a tangy special sauce—all cradled inside a soft pretzel bun.

It is rich, sharp, salty, and just sweet enough. While the menu is filled with craveable pizza and pastas, it is that burger that stays with you long after the last bite—and often sells out before the night ends. Served with cornichon and fries, it is a full plate that lives up to the hype.

Nowon

📍 508 Seneca Avenue—Bushwick

Chef Jae Lee’s Nowon feels like a late-night fever dream in the best way possible—neon lights, deep playlists, and bold Korean-American comfort food. The Legendary Cheeseburger is unapologetically indulgent: two charred patties layered with umami-forward American cheese, kimchi-Kewpie mayo, and house pickles, all piled into a sesame-seed bun.

It is chaotic in the most balanced way, with a kick of funk, richness, and crunch in every bite. It is also one of those rare burgers where the last bite is just as craveable as the first.

Harlem Shake

📍 119 5th Avenue—Park Slope

From Harlem to Park Slope, Harlem Shake brings the same playful irreverence and flavor-first energy to its burgers, and none more so than the Hot Mess Burger. Made with two Pat LaFrieda patties, this stack comes dressed with pickled cherry pepper and bacon relish, gooey American cheese, and smoky chipotle mayo, all nestled inside a toasted Martin’s potato roll.

It is messy, spicy, my favorite, and entirely worth it. Pair it with their signature shake, and you have got a burger experience that does not take itself too seriously, but delivers on every level.

Manhattan

Harta

📍 30 West 39th Street—Midtown Manhattan

Just steps from Bryant Park, Harta is a New American brasserie where even the most classic dishes arrive with intention. Their Double Cheeseburger [$26] features two Black Angus beef patties topped with American cheese, house pickles, and a tangy Russian dressing on a toasted potato bun.

Served alongside crisp sea salt fries, it is the kind of burger you can enjoy al fresco on their just-reopened patio. Or as part of their two-course dinner [$35], where it is elevated into something closer to a celebration. Add the applewood smoked bacon for $3—you will not regret it.

The Skylark

📍 200 West 39th Street, 30th Floor—Times Square

Perched 30 floors above Midtown, The Skylark is not your typical burger destination—but then again, their Beef Sliders [$24] are not typical either. Served bite-sized and indulgent, these sliders layer onion jam, truffle aioli, crispy shallots, and sharp cheddar on soft, warm buns.

They are part of Skylark’s “dinner by the bite” menu, designed for lingering over skyline views and cocktails without ever committing to a full entrée. Here, the burger becomes a moment—elevated, shareable, and lit by the golden hour glow over Times Square.

NoMad Diner

📍 11 East 31st Street—NoMad

At NoMad Diner, the burger tells a story—one that begins in a West Coast kitchen and ends on a New York plate. Executive Chef Michael King brings a personal favorite to the menu with the Seattle Smash Burger [$25], a tribute to his early line-cook days.

It is built simply and intentionally: American cheese melted over a double patty, iceberg lettuce for crunch, and a tangy deluxe sauce, all layered on a toasted potato roll. For National Burger Day NYC, it is paired with the Blush Sour, a cocktail that marries Ezra Brooks Bourbon with hibiscus-ginger syrup, lemon, and vegan foam bitters.

The combination feels nostalgic and new, comforting and surprising—much like the diner itself.

Minetta Tavern

📍 113 MacDougal Street—Greenwich Village

If you are going to indulge, Minetta Tavern is where to do it. The Black Label Burger is legendary—not just because of its dry-aged beef blend sourced from Pat LaFrieda, but because of its restraint. There is no cheese. No tomato. Just caramelized onions, a confidently seasoned patty, and a pillowy bun that soaks up every bit of its richness.

It is decadent, deliberate, and priced like the institution it comes from. Dining here feels like a ritual, and on National Burger Day NYC, this is the burger that makes everything else feel a little less serious.

Gotham Burger Social Club

📍 131 Essex Street—Lower East Side

What started as a pop-up and Instagram phenomenon has become one of NYC’s most beloved burger experiences. Gotham Burger Social Club serves up a nostalgic yet nuanced take on the Smashburger.

Griddled until richly caramelized, layered with melted American cheese, shaved grilled onions, house-made pickles, and served on a classic potato bun. It is simple, salty, and engineered for that ideal two-handed, juices-running-down-your-wrists moment. Walk in hungry, walk out with another reason to love New York.

The Final Bite: Savoring National Burger Day NYC in Style

Some burgers feed your hunger. And then some feed your mood, your memory, your craving for something grounding—and just indulgent enough.
This National Burger Day NYC, skip the expected. Choose the version that stays with you—maybe because it was eaten under a skyline, with a cocktail in hand, or shared with someone who just gets it.

New York has no shortage of great burgers, but these 11?

They are curated for the moment, the flavor, and the full experience of the city itself.

Looking for something beyond the bun?—check out what’s cooking at Smorgasburg NYC 2025, where Brooklyn’s most creative food vendors [like LORE’s “dosa”] gather every weekend.